As Kingfishers Catch Fire : Poem In Your Post

As kingfishers catch fire, dragonflies draw flame;

As tumbled over rim in roundy wells

Stones ring; like each tucked string tells, each hung bell's

Bow swung finds tongue to fling out broad its name;

Each mortal thing does one thing and the same:

Deals out that being indoors each one dwells;

Selves — goes itself; myself it speaks and spells,

Crying Whát I dó is me: for that I came.

I say móre: the just man justices;

Keeps grace: thát keeps all his goings graces;

Acts in God's eye what in God's eye he is —

Chríst — for Christ plays in ten thousand places,

Lovely in limbs, and lovely in eyes not his

To the Father through the features of men's faces.

                                            - Gerard Manley Hopkins

This poem has been trailing me all day, and now I am watching a PBS show with Dr. Robert Holden that brings it to mind as well.  

Hopkins has a fascinating personal history, and remains in my personal "Top Ten" poets of all time.  I've linked a fascinating and extensive article about this Victorian poet-priest from the Poetry Foundation's website, and I hope that you will investigate his glorious oeuvre and be moved to join me in praising him.

MFB, with flames drawn and strings tucked,
L